Just As He Said!

Hi standers! It's Monday once again. Here's another devotional written by Bob from Pennsylvania. Read on and stay encouraged!

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"The LORD has kept the promise He made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.” I Kings 8:20

Have you noticed that when God tells His people what is going to happen, things happen just as He said they would? Throughout the Bible, over and over, we see how faithfully everything happens just as He said it would. Before the Last Supper, Jesus gave Peter and John specific instructions and they found things just as He had told them.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. Luke 22:7-13

God is so faithful that often those who penned His word only tell what He said would happen. We can know for certain if God said it, then that is exactly the way it happened. For example, after Peter was accosted about the temple tax, Jesus made provision for paying it as told in Matthew’s Gospel.

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, He does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?" "From others," Peter answered."Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." Matthew 17:24-27

That is all we are told. We don’t have to be told that Peter went and threw out his line, caught a fish, opened its mouth and found a four-drachma coin. We KNOW it happened just the way Jesus said it would. Imagine if any other person in the world’s history made such an outrageous suggestion as to how to obtain the required money to pay the tax! Would we need to be told whether the suggestion worked out? Of course! But when our Lord makes us a promise, we can be certain it will happen, and it will happen “just as He said.”


Unfortunately, I must confess that I sometimes allow circumstances to cause doubt to grow in my heart and mind. That’s when I know I have started to walk by sight rather than by faith. Recently I had a particularly difficult day with difficult interactions. When I was alone again at the end of the day, I cried out to the Lord to help me. Then I took one of my Bibles in hand and asked Him to encourage me and open a passage that would speak to my troubled heart. The Bible fell open to Joshua 21. It is 45 verses long, and most of the verses provide the names of towns that were given to the Levites. As I was reading, my heart began to be disappointed because I could see that this wasn’t the kind of chapter that was going to build me up. Still, I persevered in my reading and the chapter ended with three incredible verses that I want to remember for the rest of my life, verses to remind me of the unfailing and perfect faithfulness of the awesome God that we serve. I hope these verses encourage you as they did me – to stand firm and wait for the fulfillment of every promise that God has given. Without a doubt, every one of His good promises will be fulfilled!

"So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." Joshua 21:43-45

 

Amazing Favor

Dad's chemo went well.  He's on his second day of infusion today.  His face got a bit dry though, probably because of the chemo medicine. So, I applied some of my moisturizer on his face.  It worked!

I slept way too late last night, so I got up very late this morning, too. I've been having trouble sleeping lately. Anyway, I was awakened by Dr. Chen's voice talking to Dad.  He informed Dad that somebody with a good heart left a huge amount of money here at the hospital and instructed the president of the hospital to choose Filipino recipients to receive a free ¥15,000 ($2,348.70) worth of Combined Immunotherapy for Cancer (CIC) which normally costs ¥48,000 ($7,515.85).  Dad was chosen as one of the recipients. This CIC will help boost Dad's immune system to fight cancer even after the chemotherapy sessions are over. 

Isn't God totally amazing?  God has been showing us favors ever since we got here last Wednesday.  Praise God!!!

We met new friends.  They were referred here to Fuda by the same man who referred Dad here.  Small world.

Dad with Sarah and Edison

Amjd and Reema's mom gave me this. It's from their country and it is called Fatira. It is bread with white cheese.

They are leaving tomorrow morning, and will be back after two months.

Dad with Amjd (with his new do)

I continue to marvel at how amazing and faithful God is.  Thank you, Lord!

My Salon Adventure

I'm back at Fuda with Dad.  We arrived last night.  Got a nasty sore throat and fever two days before our flight.  Argh!!!  I hate antibiotics!

Anyway, God is soooo good.  The night before our flight, I got an email from the hospital informing me that Dad and I will share a room with another patient because the hospital was fully booked.  I must admit, I was quite disappointed with that because the last time we shared a room and I slept on a bunk bed, I had a back ache and got a bump on my right brow.  Anyhow, I said, "God, please do something about this and give us our own room.  But if You want us to share a room then Your will be done. Just please help me with my attitude."  When we got to the hospital, guess what? The nurse led us to our very own room!  The other patient opted to stay in a hotel, so we got the room all to ourselves.  Woot!  

Isn't God awesome?

This morning, I went out to my usual hang out place and, well, it's too quiet there already.  My new friends went back to their countries a week ago and I was actually there all alone.  Sigh... 

Anyway, I got a digital perm this afternoon from a nearby salon here at the hospital.  I was a bit worried though because the hair stylist spoke only two words of English and those were thank and you.  Yikes! But since my friend Elaine said that they were actually good, I tried my best to keep calm and let them do what they do best.

Here I am trying to get a good shot of myself while the stylist puts white, square sponge thingies in my hair

See, I can't get a straight shot of myself without the phone on my face.  

And, here's the my new hairdo...

My hair stylists - Jin Zhe, Wang Peng & Liu Jie of LFC Salon

Tomorrow, Dad will have his fifth chemo session. Unlike the previous sessions, he will be trying the local chemo treatment. Before doing the chemo, the doctors will do an ultrasound on him to check his current condition. Dad seems to be doing well. If it's any indication, he gained 6 pounds. =)

Chillin With HS Friends

After a very tiring stressful day of going around the metro meeting people and doing presentations, it's definitely a welcome breather to sit down, chill and have coffee with my high school friends.

With Claire & Pam

Top (L-R): Edward, Jed, Amia, Tim & David

Sitting (L-R): Claire, Pam & me

With Joy, David's wife, on my left

I felt like I came out of a war zone going home before heading to UCC Podium to meet my friends.  It was horrible!  I took the metro rail transit because I knew it's fast and I will be home in a jiff, but I guess I will never do that again.  I was pushed and squashed...  It was crazy!!!  

Anyway, I'm happy because I'm ending my day with a smile and a thankful heart.  Thankful for friends and for all of God's blessings.  

Good night, everyone!

Blessings

I got up this morning pretty late.  I was contemplating on whether to go meet my friend Stef who's going to introduce me to her client, who could very well be my client too in the future, OR go and see my OB-GYN.  Guess what? I ended up seeing  neither one of them.  I've been sooo lazy lately.  Have you noticed the date since I last posted?

Anyway, my day started very slow. I had to force myself to get up and hit the shower.  But it became quite exciting towards the end of the day.  

First, I was filled spiritually after receiving the Word of God at the service. This week's topic was about BLESSINGS. I'm so grateful that I serve a faithful God.  My prayer took a slight turn from talking to God about my heart's desires to telling Him to give me an undivided heart for Him.  I believe it's time for me to focus on Him (again), to seek the Blessor rather than the blessings. The blessings come naturally when we seek Him first. I really feel this is what God wanted me to do in this season of my life.  

Second, I met with some of my college friends at Burgoo.  This came about when Joann and her family came home from Russia, where they are currently based.  We haven't seen and talked for ages.  And I was so touched when she called me "twin" once again. We used to call each other that back in college.  

L-R: Melissa, me, Pam, Jen & Joann


"Take care also, Twin."

Third, I got to spend some time with another friend and prayer partner, Bette, before going home.  

I feel so blessed today.  I am looking forward to more of God's blessings in the days to come.  Thank you, Lord!

Happy To Be Home

We got home early this morning, at around 1 a.m.  I felt so sleepy, but my mind was still very much awake.  I miss my friends there already.  

Anyway, I would like to share with you photos of our new friends there.  Mostly from Middle Eastern countries. We wouldn't have met them if it weren't for our trips to Fuda. =)

L-R: Ibrahim (Palestine), Ahmed and Sarhan (Bahrain), Dad

Jamal (Saudi Arabia), Dad and Ahmed 

Dad, Amjd (Saudi Arabia) and Mr. Ng

L-R: Ahmed, Glecie Tan, Dad, Sherlyn and Amjd

Amjd and his sister, Reema.  

My new friend Reema is so good at drawing, conceptualizing... She is so artistic!  She said she wanted to work for the likes of Walt Disney as an animator.  Here's a sample of her sketch...

She said this is her.  She drew this in less than two hours. Click here for more of her drawings. 

Anyway, Dad is getting better... I think... because his lab test results were all good.  His tumor markers were excellent, all within normal range.  Thank God!  All praises to Him.


Our total accumulated bill: ¥233,476.51 ($36,214.75)

Shopping in GZ

Today is Dad's last day of infusion.  Dad is feeling better today, unlike yesterday when he felt woozy the whole day.  Anyway, Sherlyn, Cristina and I went shopping at Shangxiajiu (上下九), a commercial pedestrian street in Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. I bought a couple of maxi dresses and tops and  a couple of belts for my sister.  You can buy cheap clothes there; you just have to choose and dig in to find the nice ones.

Sherlyn and me

We also had Milk Tea from Tea Da Ye. Can't leave China without having Milk Tea.  =)

With Calvin, the owner

We also went to this huge place called Jade Plaza where they sell all kinds of jade stones. We just looked around, we didn't buy anything from here though... too expensive.  Haha!

Jade Plaza

Oh, and we went to another Chinese temple called Hualin Temple (华林寺), also at Shangxiajiu.

Here's something funny we saw on our way to Shangxiajiu. 

Haha!  Umbrella inside an air conditioned bus

Anyway, back at Fuda, our new friends from Oman left to go back to their country. Oman is a country on the eastern border of Saudi Arabia.

Yuseff (white shirt), Kalil (red shirt) and Faris (little boy)

Early this morning, my head accidentally hit the railing of my bunk bed. I now have a small bump on my right brow. I can't see a bruise, but it still hurts a bit.

Today was a pretty exciting day.  Thank you, Lord!